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My 90 year grandma had a fall a month ago and broke her wrist. She's had the splint more than 6 weeks now. Today she had her splint removed and hand x-rayed which still shows a fracture. The doctor told my mom that there were 2 options: 1. Surgery or 2. Keep the splint on for the long run. My grandma is old and fragile, so I opted out of surgery. She doesn't complain of pain but it's hard for her to walk since she can't support herself with a splint on. Has anyone ever been on a similar case with a loved one?


Last time she was put under- about 2 months ago, it took almost a week for her to return to a normal baseline. With Alzheimer's, she forgets more after anesthesia.

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I think you made the right choice. Someone your grandma's age is at a very high risk for the negative effects of anesthesia, as you already know, and those effects can often not be reversible. Just keep the splint on, and hopefully in time her wrist will heal. You're a sweet grandchild to take such good care of your grandma.
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ineedsupport32 Apr 2021
Thank you, it's often hard to make these type of medical decisions!
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When my 90+ yr old aunt with advanced dementia fell against a dining room table and cracked her shoulder, they kept her arm in a sling and amazingly it did heal. Then she fell and broke her kneecap. Put her in a wheelchair with a removable cast and it did heal eventually also. I'm hoping that time may improve your gramma's wrist, so maybe discuss other splint options or strategies with her orthopedist or a PT, since she has to keep using it. I would have made the same decision as you.
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ineedsupport32 Apr 2021
Thank you, it helps to know your aunt bones healed. I am hoping the same for my grandma!
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Can she have surgery w local anesthesia instead of being put under?
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ineedsupport32 Apr 2021
I will ask the doctor on her next appointment. I doubt it though. She went with my mom. On her next appt they will follow up with another x-ray and see if there has been any healing.
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I totally agree with you. When mom hit a certain age her doctor told her NO more surgery for anything!

I hope that your grandmother’s wrist heals soon.
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ineedsupport32 Apr 2021
Thank you!
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If you go with no surgery (and that would be my choice), I’d check a couple of things with the doctor.

First, what is the doctor’s attitude to pain medication? At 90, the issue of addiction is not all that relevant, but some doctors these days are difficult to persuade. If your grandmother is in long term pain, try to get an OK from the doctor that she will get adequate pain medication.

Secondly, ‘splint’ makes me think of the old rigid plaster of paris splint I had on a fractured forearm as a kid, the sort that all the other kids in school wrote messages on. There may be ‘softer’ alternatives now that may not be as good at setting the fracture, but could provide some support that would minimise pain for your grandmother.

I hope that it all works out as well as possible, and send my love to you and your grandmother.
Yours, Margaret.
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ineedsupport32 Apr 2021
Yes, I have been told she can take Tylenol for pain . She doesn't complain about any pain on her hand though. The splint she had at the ED was like a half cast underneath her palm to just right under her her elbow, then it was securely wrapped and taped. With this 2nd appointment the splint is very cheaply made- a plasticast with velcro wraps. It doesn't stay positioned so I ordered a splint from Amazon to put on top to keep secure. It has helped.

Thank you, I am hoping too!
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My 94 year old dad began falling a lot after being confined to his room last year during the beginning of covid. He developed compression fractures in his spine. The surgeons pushed me and pushed me to consent to major back surgery. Uh, no??? Both his PCP and I agreed that was not appropriate. We opted for spinal brace for a couple months instead.. You made the right choice.
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